Sorting machine



Oct. 19, 1937.

I H. E. BRuNKow SORTING MACHINE Filed March 23, 1934 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 lHerbe/ L'. Eran/row BY Hl; fr0/wars Oct. 19, 1937. H. E. BRuNKow SORTINGMACHINE Filed March 23, 1934 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 /Nwi'A/Twe` Herber E.Brun/row www/v5 V5 Oct. 19, 1937.

H. E. BRuNKow Y 2,096,572

Somme MAGHINE 3 Sheets-Sheet Filed March 23, 1934 MURI! Herbe/ E.Brun/row Patented Oct. 19, 1937 UNITED STATES SORTING MACHINE Herbert E.Brunkow, Delano, Minn., assignor to Katherine M. Brunkow, Delano, Minn.

Application March 23,

15 Claims.

This invention relates to machines for sorting or distributing all kindsof objects having varying characteristics into groups that have like ornearly like desired characteristics and, generally stated, the inventionconsists of novel devices, combinations of devices, and arrangement ofparts hereinafter described and dci-ined in the claims.

Among the important objects of the invention is the provision of amachine by means of which objects of a common classification, but ofvarious different physical dimensions, may be divided into a pluralityof groups, each group being made up of objects or" like physicaldimensions or at least alike within approximately chosen limits.

Another important object of the invention is the provision ci a machineby means of which objects of various diiierent weights be divided intogroups, each group being made up o1" those objects which are of like orsimilar weight.

A still further and more specific object of the invention is theprovision of a machine ier eniciently sorting like kinds of objectshaving peculiar and irregular shape into groups of substantially likesize.

The particular machine here illustrated and which contains the preferredembodiments of the invention, was constructed primarily for use insorting or grading of pickle cucumbers or other objects of varying sizebut of substantially the same weight per bulk, into groups ofsubstantially like sizes and in this machine such grouping according tosize is the result of individually weighing the objects of varying size,but of like weight per bulk, and distributing them into groups,according to weight.

From the foregoing and from the following specification and claims, itwill be evident 'that the invention is capable of a wide range of usesamong which is the sorting of pickle cucumbers, Various fruits, andeggs. The provision of a machine for sorting or grading of cucumberswhether cured or uncured has, however, been an exceedingly difficultproblem to solve due to the 45 peculiar and irregular shape of theseobjects and attempts to provide such machinery ior this purpose havebeen so unsuccessful that up to the present time pickles or pickledcucumbers are most usually sorted by hand in pickle factories which areotherwise fully equipped. It will, of course, be appreciated that thegrading of pickles, eggs, or in fact most anything else, is slow andtedious if done by hand and often results in inaccuracy. Therefore,since this machine very suc- 1934, Serial N0. 716,993

cessfully solves the problem, it will ll a long-felt need in variousindustries.

The above noted and other important objects and advantages of theinvention will be made apparent from the following specification andclaims.

In the accompanying drawings, which illustrate the invention, likecharacters indicate like parts throughout the several views.

Referring to the drawings:

Fig. l is a view, partly in section and partly in side elevation, takenon the irregular line l-I of Fig. 2, of the intermediate portion or themachine, the opposite ends thereof being broken away and shown`elsewhere and certain intermediate parts not on the section line beingbroken away and shown in section;

Figs. la and lb are fragmentary views illustrating the left and righthand end portions, re-

spectively, of the machine, and which portions L are broken away in Fig.1 and may be assumed to be taken on the same line as Fig. 1 and havesome parts, beyond the section line, broken away and shown in section;

Fig. 2 is a transverse sectional View taken on the line 2-2 of Fig. land having certain intermediate parts broken away;

Fig. 3 is a fragmentary transverse sectional View taken on the line 3-3of Fig. 1b;

4 is a fragmentary detail view taken approximately on the line 4 4 ofFig. 2;

Fig. 5 is a fragmentary plan view taken approximately on the irregularline 5-5 of Fig. 4;

Fig. 6 is an enlarged detail View with some parts broken away;

Fig. 7 is a fragmentary view taken approximately on the line 1 1 of Fig.2 and has some parts broken away, some parts shown in section, and otherparts omitted;

Fig. 8 is a iragmentary perspective view; and

Fig. 9 is a wiring diagram illustrating the hookup of the electricalelements of the machine.

Before entering into a detailed description of the machine it should beunderstood that the drawings are illustrative of a complete andoperative machine and that those parts which are omitted by breakingaway and narrowing up the drawings, as in Fig. 2, represent duplicateparts which, if included, would merely provide a plurality of parallelbut inter-connected mecha- The machine illustrated may be divided intotwo 3o-operating mechanisms, to wit: A distributing mechanism, indicatedas an entirety by A, and a selector mechanism, indicated as an en- Ytirety by B. With the eXception of certain interconnecting drivingconnections, all parts located below the plane of broken horizontal lineX-X of Fig, l, constitute parts of the distributing mechanism'A and allparts located above the plane of said line constitute parts of theselecting mechanism B. Y

Distributor mechanism The distributor mechanism A includes a guideway inthe nature of a long trough Vill having rigid side walls I l and abottom wall made up of a seriesof displaceable sections I2. Eachdisplaceable section I2 constitutes a discharge device pivoted Yto theopposite sides II of the trough IG in a suitable bearing i3 and is nor-Vmally yieldingly maintained in a closed-or trough bottom completingposition by its own counterweight I2a. The free end portion of eachpivoted section I2 is provided with an ol'fset latch i element id, thehorizontal portion of which normally engages theV bottom edge of one cfthe trough sides l I and acts in the capacity of a stop to limit closingmovements of its attached pivoted section I2 to a vposition wherein itis aligned or parallel to the plane of the bottom edge ofV the troughsides. Y

For individually opening the Vseveral pivoted runway sectionsk ordischarge devices i'there is provided a vertical reciprocating bed VI5that underlies the several latch elements l and is connectableindividually to the several latch elements I4 of the several pivotedtrough sections l2 by means of a plurality of independently operablelatch elements I6 to 23, inclusive, respectively, looking from lefttoward the right, in respect to Figs. l, la, 1b, 7v and 9, there beingone for individual 'co-operation with each runway section latch elementI6.' Each of these latch elements i6 to 23, inclusive, is pivotallyanchored at 2@ to the reciprocating bed member l5 through the medium cfadifferent anchoring base 25, the several of which'bases are mounted faston a longitudinally horizontally disposed member 55a of the bed I5. TheseveralY pivotedV latch elements I6 to 23, inclusive, are each providedwith Yacounter-weight 26 which, through the action of gravity, maintainthe same under yielding ten- Y sionto move to their fully extendedinoperative positions wherein, under reciprocating movements, the offsetfree ends thereof Vfreely pass andV are inoperative on theirrespective'co-operating latch elements Mi.

Each latch element I 6 to 23, inclusive, is Vprovided with its ownmotivating device and in accordance with the illustration, these are inthe f nature of solenoid coils 21, each suitably mounted on a base andbeing provided with a plungeracting core 28 that is pivotally anchoredto the intermediate portion of a co-operating one of the latch elementsI6 to 23, inclusive.

Obviously, when the solenoid coil 2'I of one of the latch elements Iiito 23, inclusive, is energized the said latch element will be movedagainst the yielding action of gravity to an extreme left hand position,in respect to Figs. l, la, 'l' and 9, wherein its oset free end willtravel in a line with'its cO-operating latch element Ill and, of course,if this is done when the bed I5 and its latch members I3 and 23,inclusive, are in their extreme upper positions, then the pivotallymoved of the latch members VI6 to 23inclusive, will interlock with'itsco-operating latch member It. Then under downward movements of theoperatively moved :of the .latch members Iii to 23, inclusive,

with the bed I5, the engaged latch member I4 will move with the same,thereby moving the associated runway forming section I2 pivotally to anopen position against the yielding action of the counter-weight I2a. Atthis point, attention Cil isY called to the fact. that the free ends oftheVv latch'elements I to 23, inclusive,are suiciently hook-shaped thatonce they are interlocked with the co-operating latch element I4 andmoved downwardly sufliciently to place the engaged latch element i4under tension', the co-operating elements will remain engaged withoutthe aid of the co-operating solenoid coil ZIvso that the solenoid may berendered inoperative as soon as the co-operatingelements are placedunder tension. The co-operating latch elements will, of course, remainengaged through the downward movement of the Vbed I5 and return upwardmovement thereof and near the completion of said upward movement, theco-operating elements will be released of tension and will beautomatically disengaged by gravity.

The bed l5 isV in the nature of a rectangular frame comprising parallellongitudinal members I 5a andv cross members Ib. The opposite ends ofthe longitudinal bed members 95a work slidably in verticalchannel-shaped guide-ways 29, which guide the bed for true verticalmovements. The cross members Iiib of the bed I5 each ride on a pair or"laterally spaced cams S'which, when rotated, produce the desiredreciprocating movements ofthe bed l5. The cams 30 of each pair aremounted ona shaft Sl'which is journaled near its opposite ends inbearings 32 provided on opposite machine-supporting legs 33. 3l,carrying opposite pairs Yof cams 30, are connected for common rotarymovements by means of suitable sprockets 34 and a chain 35. Theconnected pair of cam shafts 3| are driven from a suitable source ofpower, such for example as an electricV motor, not shown, through alarge pulley 36, a transverse shaft 3l extending completely across themachine and journaled in suitable bearings 38 on transversely oppositelegs 33. This drive shaft 3i is provided with aV spur pinionV 39 thatintermeshes with a relatively large speedreducing gear d, which gear 4i!is mounted fast on a shaft ll that is journaled in suitable bear-Mounted for horizontal forward and-rearward VVreciprocating movements inthe runway trough The shafts l@ and over all of the pivotedbottom-forming sec- Y tions I2'thereof is a conveyor head fil. Thisconveyor head il is mounted fast on and depends from the front crossmember 133 of a rectangular sliding frame, indicated as an entirety by49, and comprising said front cross membery 48, a

similar rear cross member 5B, and a pair of laterally spaced parallelracks 5I that serve as frame side membersand are secured to the frontand rear cross members 48 and 5S by suitableY The conveyor frame 49 isdriven from the shaft 4| through the following driving elements, to wit:A crank 54, mounted fast on the projected end of the shaft 4I, arelatively long rack 55 pivotally anchored at one end to the free end ofthe crank 54 and running over a pinion 56 on the pro- -jected end of .atransverse shaft 51 that is journaled at its opposite ends in oppositeframe members 46 and is provided intermediately with pinions 58 thatmesh, one with each of the conveyor frame racks The rack 55 ismaintained in constant mesh with the pinion 56 by means of a guide plate59 and a guide roller 68. The guide plate 759 is loosely journaled onthe shaft 51 and the roller 68 is journaled on a stud shaft 6| thatprojects outwardly from the plate 59 over the upper surface of the rack55.

I'here is provided below each pivoted runway section I2 an independentdelivery chute 62 for receiving and delivering objects from theirrespective pivoted section and delivering them to desired differentdestinations. Beyond the most forwardly located pivoted section I2,there is provided a similar chute 63 which receives and suiti ablydirects any and all objects that are not discharged through one of thechutes 62 and the several chutes 62 and 63 are all tied together andsupported from certain of the legs 33 by means of a long bracket 64 andscrews or the like 65.

The complete distributor mechanism has now been described but beforeproceeding with the detailed description of the selecting mechanismtherefore and a detailed discussion of the operation' of the mechanismas a whole, attention is 1 directed to the fact that the conveyor head41 and the bed I5, carrying latches I 6 to 23, inclusive, are drivenfrom a common source, not shown, through the driving connectionsdescribed in such timed relation that the bed I5 is always fully loweredby its cams 38 when the conveyor head 41 is at its eXtreme of itsrearward movement, as shown by full lines in Figs. 1, la and 1b, andsaid conveyor and bed are cycled alike. The extreme forward position ofthe conveyor head 41 and the extreme upper position of the bed I5 andits latch devices I6 to 23, inclusive, is shown by dotted lines in Figs.l and 1a.

Selector mechanism The preferred selector mechanism herein illustratedin conjunction with and for controlling operation of the distributormechanism includes as a primary element a weight-controlled switch,indicated as an entirety by 66. This selector switch 66 includes aplurality of switch contacts 61 mounted in circumferentially spacedrelation about an insulating segment 68 that is mounted on andconcentric to the axis of an oscillatory weighing lever 69, and furtherincludes a cooperating switch arm having a contact tip 1I insulatedelectrically from the main body thereof by suitable insulation 12.

The weighing lever 69 is pivotally suspended at 13 between a pair ofsupporting brackets 14 that project from a cross member on the machineframe and is provided, at its forward end portion, with a yoke 69nadapted to receive a normally closed sectional weighing bucket 16 and atits rear said weighing lever is provided with a counter-weight 11 whichbalances the empty bucket and maintains the lever 69 normally in ahorizontally disposed position. The bucket 16 is formed of like halves18 that are pivotally connected together and to the yoke 69a at 19.These like halves 18 are normally yieldingly closed together by means ofa spring 88 wound about one of the pivots 19 and having its free endspressing against suitable pins or lugs 8| on opposite bucket halves 18.

The switch arm 1|J is pivoted at 82 between a pair of frame members 83and is subject to tension of a spring 84 which normally maintains thecontact tip 1I thereof slightly above the arc described by the severalcontacts 61 and a stop pin 85 thereon against a ixed frame member 10 86.By reference to full lines in Figs. l and 4, it will be noted that whenthe bucket 16 is empty and the weighing arm is balanced in a horizontalposition, the entire series of contacts 61 are rotatively positionedbeyond the co-operating 15 contact tip 1| in a clockwise direction, inrespect to Fig. l, and in a counter-clockwise direction, in respect toFig. 4.

By reference particularly to the wiring diagram of Fig. 9, it will benoted that there is provided an individual one of the selector switchcontacts 61 for each solenoid coil 21 of the distributor mechanism andthat the circuit of each solenoid 21 includes the switch arm contacttipA 1I and a different one of the contacts 61. With 25 reference toFigs. 1 and 9, it will be seen that the contacts 61, looking from leftto right, control the solenoid coils 21 progressively from right toleft. A common source of potential P is pro'- vided for energizing theseveral solenoids 21 and `30 this may be in the nature of a storagebattery.

Considering the extreme left hand contact 61, in respect to Figs. l and9, to be the first of the series and the extreme right hand solenoidcoil 21 to be the first in that series, it will be notedv` that thefirst solenoid 21 is connected between P and the first contact 61 byleads |69, that the second solenoid in the series is connected betweenthe second contact 61 and P by leads I1f and so on, each succeedingsolenoid 21 being con-"10 nected between P and a correspondinglypositioned contact 61 by a lead numbered like the latch device operatedby that solenoid and the exponent a. The circuit of each solenoid iswcompletable independently through the switch arm tip 1| and a commonlead 81.

The pivoted switch arm 1D is moved pivotally to bring its tip 1I intoyielding engagement with the segment 68 or a contact 61 thereof, onceduring each cycle of the distributor mechanism A, by '50 means of a cam88 that engages a leaf spring 89 on the rear end of said switch arm 18,once during each cycle. By reference to Figs. l, la and 4, it will beseen that cam 88 is cycled to move l the switch arm 10 pivotally to aposition where- 55 in the tip 1I thereof engages the segment 68 or acontact 61 thereof, depending upon the pivoted position of the weighingarm and contact segment, at the time the conveyor head 41 is making itsreturn movement and the bed I5 and its latch devices I6 to 23,inclusive, are in fully elevated positions.

Depending from the axis of the weighing arm 69 for pivotal movementtherewith is a pendu-v lum-like arm 98 that is provided at its inter- 65mediate portion with an adjustable pendulum weight 9| and at its freelower end with a paddle 92 that works in a receptacle 93 containing oilor other suitable fluid y. The combined action ing in fluid y serves toretard and stabilize the action of the weighing arm and provide animportant contribution toward the successful opof the pendulum weight 9|and paddle 92 work- 70 eration of the selecting mechanism. As a furthermeans of stabilizing the action of the weigh- 0 yrock levers |04andrigid links "|05.

levers |04 are anchored -fast-on the rock-shaft 1 ing arm underload-andvforreturning'said arm and loaded bucket to a normal positionafter .selection according to the weight of an object 90 is aguide-arm-SII thatis lrigidly anchored atV its rear end to a transverseguide bar f95ithat is provided` at its vopposite ends Vwith frollers 96,

,which rollers each ride on asuitablebut rigidly mounted concave track91. Rigidly secured to and extending rearwardly from opposite endportions of the transverseguide bar 95 is a laterally spaced pair oflinks 98, each of which is pivotally anchored at its extended rear endtoan opposite one of apair ofcross heads-99. Each cross head 99 issli-dably mounted-0in an opposite one ofa laterally spacedpair ofrearwardly inclined guide rods that project fromand are rigidlyYanchored vin a frame member IOI. The cross headsSS are reciprocated onthe guide rods |00 from a transverse rock-shaft |02Y that is journaledVin opposite frame members |03 :through The rock |02 and said links arepivotally anchored to the levers |04 Vand cross heads 99.

short rshaft |08 that is journaled ina bearing' |09,V a lchain |09@running-overwsprockets |06 and |01, and acrank IIO fast on the shaft |08VVand having its free end slidable in a long slot III Vin-one of therockleversld. The curvature and angle of inclination of the tracks 91and the angle vof inclination ofguide rods |00 is such that thefree endof guide member-94 will travel in an arc of a circlestruck from theaxis-'hofV the Weighing -arm 69.

The switch arm-operating cam 88 is mounted on a transverse cam-shaft II2that is journaled at opposite endsk in bearings'IIS and is driven fromshaft |08 through a sprocket II4Yon Yshaft |08, and sprocket I| on camvshaft I|2, and a chain IIB running over-sprockets II4 and II5.

For opening thebucket i16 it is desirable to provideaa mechanism whichis normallyfree from and independent ofthe bucket f16 andfweighing arm69 so that it will not interfere with pivotal movements of the weighingarm yand for this purpose I provide the following described mechanism,to wit:Y

Depending from andipivotally anchored toa Y fixed frame memberll E@ is apair of'arms I i'that Vtion of the arms II1 and the closed position ofthe bucket sections 18 is indicated by full lines andthe operativepositions of the arms I1 and the. open positions of theYbucket-sections, indicatedlby dotted lines. These arms I1 are movedinto bucket-opening position once during each cycle of the-machine byacam II9 on cam-shaft Y II2 through-connectionscomprisingfaspring-retractedplunger |20, a .pushrod I2I, a lever |22 andlinks |23 and |24. Theplu-nger-IZG works ,slidably throughiaVfrarnememberl |.2'5and is provided Withahead |26 forengagement withcam2,096,572V Y Y Y I.I9. The spring for retracting the plunger, land Therock-shaft V|02 is oscillated from the shaft '11| by drivingV Y of thecycle.

which is compressed between frame member |25 and head |26, is indicatedby |21.

Operation The summary of the operation will start with the partspositioned, as shown by -full lines in all gures except Fig. 9.

Attention is directed to the fact that the pivoted runway section I2operatedV by latchdevice 20 is, atthis'time, in an open position Yandthat an object x-to be distributed, and which may be a pickle, has beendelivered to the runway at a point just forward of the conveyor-head 01which at this time, is in a substantially extreme rearwardfposition juststarting on its forwardY movement-during which .forward Ymovement itlwill deliver the pickle :i: to the openpivoted section I2 causing it tobe discharged through the chute 8,2 underlying that pivoted section.

With the parts positioned, as shown by full lines in all figures, exceptFig.Y 9, a pickle or other obje'ctpto be. sorted' is placed in the.weighing bucket 16. The weighing v,arm 69 will be held against pivotalmovements'momentarily by the guide arm S9, wliich at this point in thecycle of operation, is in engagement with the pendulum 90 of saidweighing arm. This guide arm 94, however, beginswithdrawing to itsrearward dotted` line position shortly after the object has been placedin the bucket and permits the weighing arm to move pivotally to aposition of balance which will varyV according to the weight of theobject placed in the bucket and, for the sake of illustration, it may beassumed thatY this particuiar object is of such weight. as to cause theweighing arm to'balance at a point wherein the `contact tip 1l of theswitch arm 'l0 .is directly Vselector switch-operating cam 09 will havefully engaged the spring 09 of the switcharrn 10 and will have causedthe contact tip i! of said switch arm to'be moved into firm electricalContact with the then aligned third selector switch contact 61, lookingfrom left to right in respect to Figs. l and 9 and as shown by fulllines in Fig. 9. This en- Y Ygagement ofthe contact tipV 1| with thethird switch contact 61 will complete the circuitv through and energizethe solenoid 21. operating latch device i8 and said latch device I8 willbe moved into interlocking engagement with its then to the left inrespect to Fig. 1.

During the next one-third cycle of operation of the machine, the bed I5will be lowered back to' its'iuli line position and the' said thirdpivcted runwayrsection I2 will be opened, the extreme opening havingbeen eliected upon completion Also during the last one-third ofoperation, the guide arm 94 engages the pendulum '.90 and returns thesame and the weighing arm 69 to their. normal positions,

Y As previously indicated, the Vcam 98 Vwill maintain'the selectorswitch closed foronly a very short duration of time but suiiicientnevertheless Vfor the cooperating engaged latch'elements I8 and I4 to beplaced under tension, which tension main- Vtains the engagement during acomplete cycle.

Therefore, engaged latch devices ,willalwaysjbe released by gravity uponbeing relieved of tension at the end of a cycle, unless the same pivotedsection I2 and co-operating latch elements and solenoid 21 aresuccessively selected.

Upon return of the weighing arm to a normal horizontal position the cam||9 will engage the head |26 of the plunger |20 and will move the sameand its operating connections, including the bucket opening arms ||1, tothe position shown by dotted lines, wherein said arms have engaged thepins H8 on the opposite bucket sections 18 and moved said bucketsections pivotally to an open position. The opening of the bucket isonly momentary but is suflicient to discharge the then weighed pickle orother object :r into a trough |28, which trough will direct the pickleor other object :r to the runway at a point just ahead of the then fullyretracted conveyor head 41. Under forward movements of the conveyor head41, the last delivered object :c will be conveyed to the still open lastselected pivoted section |2, which is the third from right to left inrespect to Fig. 1, and the object will be discharged through theunderlying delivery chute 62 to a chosen destination, not shown.

It will be understood that objects of various different weights willcause various different degrees of pivotal movement of the weighing arm69 and therefore will cause different selector switch contacts 61 to beengaged by the contact tip 1|, and hence, different pivoted sections |.2to be opened, and it will be further understood that should an object berun through the machine which was either too light to move the firstcontact B1 into alignment with the contact tip 1| or was so heavy as tomove the last contact 61 beyond a position of alignment with the contacttip 1|, that no selection of outlets |2 would be made, and hence, theobject would be conveyed completely through the runway to and dischargedthrough the chute 63 at the forward end of the runway.

What I claim is:

1. In a sortingmachine, the combination with a distributor comprising aguideway having a bottom made up of a plurality of normally closed butindependently displaceable sections, a conveyor for moving objects overall the closed of said displaceable sections, a bed mounted in parallelrelation to the runway for reciprocating movements toward and awaytherefrom, means for operating said bed and conveyor in timed relation,`and a plurality of normally inoperative latch devices on said bed, eachbeing operatively engageable with a different one of said displaceablesections to cause opening thereof under reciprocating movement of thebed, of means for selectively controlling operation of the several latchdevices.

2. In a sorting machine, the combination with a distributor comprising aguideway having a bottom made up of a plurality of normally closed butindependently displaceable sections, a conveyor for moving objects overall the closed of said displaceable sections, a bed mounted in parallelrelation to the runway for reciprocating movements toward and awaytherefrom, means for operating said bed and conveyor in timed relation,and a plurality of normally inoperative latch devices on said bed, eachbeing operatively engageable with a different one of said displaceablesections to cause opening thereof under reciprocating movement of thebed, of means for selectively controlling operation of the several latchdevices, said means being in the nature of a variable position selectoroperative in different positions to cause operation of different of saidlatch devices and being constructed and arranged to receive objects tobe sorted prior to delivery to the distributor, and means for deliveringobjects from the selector to the distributor.

3. In a sorting machine, the combination with a distributor comprising aguideway having a bottom made up of a plurality of normally closed butindependently displaceable sections, a conveyor for moving objects overall the closed of said displaceable sections, a bed mounted in parallelrelation to the runway for reciprocating movements toward and awaytherefrom, means for operating said bed and conveyor in timed relation,and a plurality of normally inoperative latch devices on said bed, eachbeing operatively engageable with a different one of said displaceablesections to cause opening thereof under reciprocating movement of thebed, an electromagnetic device for independently operating each of theseveral latch devices and a circuit for each of said magnetic latchoperators, of means for selectively controlling operation of the severalelectromagnetic latch operators comprising a variable positionmulti-contact selector switch connected to control the circuits of theseveral electromagnetic latch operators and cause operation of differentlatches in different positions, said variable position switch beingprovided with means for receiving objects and being constructed andarranged to be moved to various different positions according to thevarying Weights of the objects, means for closing weight-selectedcontacts of the selector switch in timed relation to the bed, and meansfor delivering objects from the selector to the distributor.

4. In a sorting machine, the combination with a distributor comprising aguideway having a bottom made up of a plurality of normally closed butindependently displaceable sections, a conveyor for moving objects overall the closed of said displaceable sections, a bed mounted in parallelrelation to the runway for reciprocating movements toward and awaytherefrom, means for operating said bed and conveyor in timed relation,and a plurality of normally inoperative latch devices on said bed, eachbeing operatively engageable with a different one of said displaceablesections to cause opening thereof under reciprocating movement of thebed, a plurality of electromagnetic devices for independently operatingeach of the several latch devices, a circuit for each of saidelectromagnetic operators, of a variable position switch mechanism forselectively controlling operation of the several electromagnetic latchoperators comprising a pivoted Weighing lever provided near a free endwith a normally closed bottom dump bucket for reception of objects to besorted, yielding means normally balancing said weighing arm ininoperative position, a series of switch contacts carried by theweighing lever in circumferentially spaced relation about an arc struckfrom the axis of the weighing lever, a switch arm for co-operation withthe several contacts in the series carried by the weighing arm, thecontact portion of said switch arm being normally spaced from the arctraversed by the several weighing lever contacts, the entire series ofweighing arm contacts being normally positioned beyond the Contactportion of said switch arm, the circuit of each of said electromagneticlatch operators including said switch arm and a different one of saidseries of Weighing arm contacts.

' withv toA their inoperative positions after selection is complete,and'means for dumping the Weighing bucket after selection iscompletasaid last named means being normally free and independent of theWeighing bucket and being operatively engageable therewith when 'andonly when the Weighing bucket andpartsmovable therewith are in; theirsubstantiallyV inoperative positions.

Y '7. In a sorting machine, a distributor comprising a guideway having aWall made up of a plurality of normally closed but independentlydisplaceable sections, a bed mounted-for reciprocating; movement inrespect to the guideway, means for reciprocating said bed, a pluralityof normally inoperative latch deviceson said bed, each of saidlatchdevices being operatively engageable with a different one of saiddisplaceable sections to cause openingVV thereof 'under reciprocatingmovements of said bed, and means for se ectively controlling operationof said latch devices.

8. In a sorting machine, a distributor comprising a guidevvay having aWall made up oi a plurality of normally closed but independentlydisplaceable sections, a bedmounted in substantially parallel relationto the guideway for reciprocating movements in respect to the guidcway,means for reciprocating said bed, a plurality oi normally inoperativelatch-devices on said bed, each of said latch devicesrbeing operativelyengageable Witha different one of said'displaceablesections to causeopening thereofv under lreciprocating movements of said bed, andy meansfor selectively controlling operation of said latch devices: Y A

` V9.; AIn a sorting machine, a distributor com-pris- Y ing'a guidewayhaving a Wallprovided With aplurality ofnormally closed butindependently dis- Y placeable sections, a bedmounted for-'reciprocatingmovements in respect-tosaid guideway, a plu-V Yrality of normallyinoperative electro-magnetic latch devicesV carried byV said bed, eachof .said latch devices being operatively engageable with Va differentonefof said displaceable sections to cause openingithe'reof underreciprocating movements ofthe'bed; and means for selectively controllingoperation of the'several electro-magnetic latch devices.

l0: Ina sorting machine, a distributor comprisingla guideway havingalWall provided with aplurality-.oi normallyf closed but independently`vdis-- placeable sections, a bed mounted for reciprocating movements inrespect to said guideway, a plurality of normally inoperativeelectro-magnetic latchidevicesqcarried by said bed,.each or" said latchdevices being operatively engageable with a different one of saiddisplaceable sections tc cause opening thereof under reciprocatingmovements of Ythe bed, and means for selectively controllingoperation ofthe several'electro-magnetic latch devices comprising a variableposition multi-contact selector switch connected to control the circuitsof the several electro-magnetic'latch devices and cause operation ofdifferent latch devices in diiiferent-positions,V saidv variableposition switch being provided with means/for receiving'objects andbeing constructed and arranged to be moved to various differentpositions according tc varying-y Weights of the objects, means Vforclosing the Weight-selected contacts of the selector switch in timedrelation to the bed-and means for delivering objects from the selecto-rto the distributor;

11. Ina sorting machine, the combination with a Weight-controlledvariable positionV selector mechanism including a normally balancedpivoted4 weighing arm provided near-.a free end With and Y objectreceiving bucket, said bucket being made up of pivotally connectedsection,- andV yielding4 means normally maintaining said bucket sectionspair oi opposed arms movable toward andfrom one another and intoengagement with opposite bucket sections and means for moving theopposedY arms into operative engagement with opposite,

bucket sections to impart opening movement thereto, said arms normallybeing so spaced andi disposed as to be entirely vfree from andindependent of the Weighing arm and bucket throughoutliull operativemovements of the Weighing. arm and bucket and permitting full range piv-Veration of the said means for opening the several' distributor outletsandoperative to cause opening. different outlets in dilerentWeight-moved positions, said Weight-controlled variable positionselector mechanism including a pivotedvweighing,

lever provi-ded near a free endlwith an. objectreceiving bucket made upof two pivotally` connected sections, and yielding means for pivotallyumoving the bucket sections to openposition, said bucket-opening meansbeingfnormally entirely free and independentfoi thevveighing arm andbucket and being in the nature oi a pair of op-V posed arms movabletoward one another and engageable with oppositebucket sections when andonly when said bucket is in a substantially normal position and normallybeing spaced apart suliiciently to permit free movements of the Weighinglever, in further combination With means for holding the Weighing leveragainst Vpivotal movements during the portion of each cycle of operationwhen objects are being dropped into vthe Weighing bucket but thereafterreleasing the loaded Weighing lever for pivotal selecting movements, andthen When selection is completed, retiuning the loaded Weighing lever toa normal position wherein the bucket is positioned for engagement Withsaid bucket-opening arms.

13. In a sorting machine, the combination with a distributor having aplurality of discharge devices, of a Weight-controlled variable positionselector mechanism controlling operation of the said discharge devicesand operative to cause operation of diierent outlets in dierentWeight-moved.

positions, said Weight-controlled Variable position selector mechanismincluding a pivoted weighing lever provided near a-free end With a`object-- receiving bucket made up of pivotally connected Vmeans forpivotally moving the bucket sections to Aopen position, Saidbucket-opening meansbeing normally entirely free and independent of theweighing arm and bucket throughout the full op-Y f erative range ofmovement of the arm and bucket and being in the nature of a pair ofopposed arms movable toward one another and engageable with pppositebucket sections when and only when said bucket is in a substantiallynormal position and normally being spaced apart sufliciently to permitfree full range movements of the Weighing lever.

14. In a sorting machine, a distributor having a plurality of dischargedevices, means for independently operating the discharge devicesincluding a plurality of normally inoperative electro magnetic deviceseach being operatively associated With a different one of said dischargedevices, means for moving the several electro-magnetic devicesalternately toward and from their respective co-operating dischargedevices, means for selectively controlling operation of the severalelectro-magnetic devices comprising a variable position multi-contactselector switch connected to control the circuits of the severalelectro-magnetic latch devices and cause operation of different latchdevices in different positions, said variable position switch beingprovided with means for receiving objects and being constructed andarranged to be moved to various different positions according to varyingWeights of the objects, means for closing the Weight selected contactsof the selector switch in timed relation to movements of the saidelectro-magnetic devices, and means for delivering objects from theselector to the distributor.

15. In a sorting machine, a distributor comprising a guideWay having awall provided with a plurality of normally closed but independentlydisplaceable sections,a pluralityof normally inoperativeelectro-magnetic latch devices each being operatively engageable with adifferent one of said displaceable sections, means for imparting likereciprocating movements to said latch devices with respect to saidguideway, and means for selectively controlling operation of the severalelectromagnetic latch devices comprising a variable positionmulti-contact selector switch connected to control circuits of theseveral electromagnetic latch devices and cause operation of differentlatch devices, in different positions, said variable position switchbeing provided with means for receiving objects and being constructedand arranged to be moved to various different positions according tovarying Weights of the objects, means for closing the Weight-selectedcontacts of the selector switch in timed relation to the electromagneticlatch devices, and means for delivering objects from the selector to thedistributor.

HERBERT E. BRUNKOW.

